FirstEnergy Prepared to Handle Early Summer Heat

AKRON, Ohio, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The first hot temperatures of the year are expected in the next few days, and FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) utilities have some common-sense hot weather tips customers can follow to stay comfortable while using electricity wisely during this period of high demand:

    --  Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow. Every degree a customer
        can increase the temperature in their home will result in using about 3
        percent less energy during the hottest summer days.
    --  During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun
        to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatures.
    --  Use fans - moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on
        hot days.
    --  Use a programmable thermostat to keep temperatures higher when no one is
        home, and to reduce the temperature before arrival back home.
    --  Only operate window air conditioners when someone is in the room.
    --  Keep refrigerators and freezers as full as possible. Frozen or cold
        items in the refrigerator help keep other items cool, reducing the
        amount of work the refrigerator has to do to maintain a lower
        temperature.
    --  Close rooms that aren't used regularly during the summer, and close the
        air conditioning vents in those rooms, as well.
    --  Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the
        day. The less heat produced in the home, the less work the air
        conditioner will have to do.
    --  Consider investing in ENERGY STAR® appliances or heating, ventilating
        and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. FirstEnergy's utilities may offer
        rebates on these purchases and tax deductions may apply, as well.
    --  Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste
        energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.

In addition, FirstEnergy utilities have completed inspections of their transmission and distribution systems to assure they are prepared to help meet the anticipated increase in demand for electricity as temperatures rise.

FirstEnergy utilities include: Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison in Ohio; Jersey Central Power & Light in New Jersey; Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), Pennsylvania Power (Penn Power), and West Penn Power in Pennsylvania; Mon Power in West Virginia; and Potomac Edison in Maryland.

For updated company information, including hot weather tips, customers are urged to visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages. The utility companies also will provide updates via Twitter:

    --  Ohio Edison: @OhioEdison
    --  The Illuminating Company: @IlluminatingCo
    --  Toledo Edison: @ToledoEdison
    --  Mon Power: @MonPowerWV
    --  JCP&L: @JCP_L
    --  Penn Power: @Penn_Power
    --  Penelec: @Penelec
    --  Met-Ed: @Met_Ed
    --  Potomac Edison: @PotomacEdison
    --  West Penn Power: @W_Penn_Power

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. Visit FirstEnergy on the web at www.firstenergycorp.com, and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/firstenergy-prepared-to-handle-early-summer-heat-300471116.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.